Construction of conduits for drainage and similar purposes



W. H. STEVENS.

CONSTRUCTION OF CONDUITS FOR DRAINAGE AND SIMILAR PURPOSES- APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 17. 1920.

1,3669% Patented 9, 1921.

T 77 5;? 1 I g 5' FIE. Z 5 3} 5 y 5 5 7 5 V \Y W/ 'W/ E I F1545- FJEL4- Z 1V1) era/"baa marten srarss 1 WILLIAM HENRY STEVENS, OF HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 9, rear.

Application filed. September 17, 1920. Serial No. 410,886.

3 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WIL IAM HENRY STEVENS, of Hamilton, in the Provincial District of Auckland, in the Dominion of New Zealand, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Construction of Conduits for Drainage and Similar Purposes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the construction of conduits laid for drainage and similar purposes, and its object is to provide an improved form of conduit whereby drains and culverts particularly the larger sizes thereof, can be laid by unskilled persons, in any kind of soil, correctly and in such a manner that they will hold up under heavy loads and the shock of traffic and so that tripping at the joints is prevented.

According to the invention, the conduit, which is formed preferably of concrete or earthenware, is constructed with a fiat base of a width either greater or at least equal to the width of the conduit, so as to provide the latter with as large a bearing surface as possible.

To enable this to be done, blocks with flat under surfaces and hollowed upper surfaces and recessed around their upper edges, are laid end to end in the trench or elsewhere and jointed by means of a binding composition placed in the cross channels formed by the meeting recesses at the ends.

The sides and top of the conduit are made integral, and in sections of alength equal to the length of the blocks, the ends of said sections being beveled or recessed.

The sections providing the sides and top are placed on the blocks so as to rest in the longitudinal recesses thereof and so that the joints between said sections are directly over the centers of the blocks, whereby the weakest points in the sides and top of the conduit are supported on the strongest parts of the blocks.

vThe sections providing the sides and top are secured together and also to the blocks by means of a binding or jointing composition.

This invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is an end view, and

Fig. 2 is a side view of portion of a conduit constructed according to the invention,

Figs. 3 and 4 are part sectional elevations of sides and top sections, showing alternative methods of jointing same.

Fig. 5 is a part end elevation showing a modification.

In the drawing'l represents blocks which have a flat undersurface at least equal to the greatest width of the conduit, in order that the maximum bearing area is obtained for the latter on the foundation, upon which the conduit rests.

The blocks 1 which have hollowed upper surfaces 2, and are formed with recesses 3 around their upper edges, are jointed or secured together by placing a binding composition in the channels formed by the meeting recesses 3 at the block ends.

The sides and top of the conduit are made integral and in sections 5 equal in length to the blocks 1, said sections being placed on the blocks 1, so that their lower edges rest in the longitudinal recesses 3 of said blocks, and so that the joints between the sections are located midway between the ends of-the blocks.

The recesses 3 can be flat in cross section as in Fig. 1 or concave as in Fig. 5, with the lower edges of the sections 5 formed to suit.

The sections 5 are grouted or secured to the blocks 1 by a jointing or binding composition placed in the longitudinal recesses 3.

' In order to secure the sections 5 together, the latter are recessed at the ends as shown at 6 Figs. 1 and 2, or 7 Fig. 4, or said ends may be beveled as at 8 Fig. 3.

When the sections 5 are placed end to end,

channels are formed by the meeting recesses 6 and 7 or the bevels 8 to take a jointing or binding composition.

Both the slabs 1 and the sections 5, when made of concrete or earthenware, can be suitably reinforced.

The special features of a conduit constructed and laid as above described, are that, the maximum bearing area or base is obtained and the fact that the joints of the sections '5 are supported by the center or strongest portions of the slabs 1.

Both these features enable drains or culverts to be laid so that they will keep their alinement at all times hold up in soft or rotten ground, under heavy loads, and whether buried under deep or shallow fills, to withstand the shock of heavy trafiic, so that tripping at the joints is prevented.

s-dl

' Further, a conduit such as above described can be laid correctlyand expeditiously by i unskilled persons.

What I do claim and desire secure by Letters Patent of the United States is A conduit comprising a series of flat blocks arranged end to end and provided with substantially flat bottoms; the central portion of the upper sideof each of said blocks being depressed, longitudinally and the side edges of the upper face of said blocks being longitudinally recessed, the abutting ends ofisaid blocks having adjacent recesses forming grooves designed to receive sealing material a series of one piece arc-shaped members of no greater Width than the blocksarranged end to end and placed on the blocks with the lower edges of said members engaging the recesses 'in the side edges of the upper faces of the blocks, the. abutting edges of the members being arranged intermediate the abutting edges of the bloeks,"and the abutting edges of the members being provided with adja- WILLIAM HENRY STEVENS. VWitnesses: i i

y REGINA D FRANOESI-IAYCOCK,

ETHEL HILDA MURRAYgQ my signature 

